C/2016 M1 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	24 Jun 2018	8.7	2.278 AU	1.293 AU	18h07m	-42°22'	161.0°	8.4°	4°
Perihelion	10 Aug 2018	9.3	2.214 AU	1.790 AU	15h00m	-57°05'	100.6°	26.7°	102°
Today	9 Aug 2025	26.4	18.605 AU	19.333 AU	06h18m	+13°20'	43.0°	2.1°	261°

The interactive orbit chart above shows the comet's path through the solar system and its position at the given date. Green and blue lines are shown perpendicular to the ecliptic plane: Green if the path is above the ecliptic plane, blue if it is below. (Left-click and drag to rotate the view; Right-click and drag to move the view; Use scroll wheel to zoom in our out.)

The orbital elements of C/2016 M1 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9998380
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.2139980
            i (Inclination)                 : 90.81310
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 92.27850
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 209.92500
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 91.81050
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -29.92168
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458340.77320

            Epoch                           : 2023 Sep 24
            Reference                       : MPEC 2022-ED3

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)
        

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations respectively from COBS or the MPC. The gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (5.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 3.52 + 5 log[∆] + 12.95 log[r]).

The all-sky chart below shows the path of the comet over the same period as the light curve. The comet's current position is marked yellow.

The following chart shows the short-term path of the comet in a field of view that is optimized for (~10x50) binoculars and finderscopes.
A more printer-friendly version of the same chart can be found further down this page as well.

The following chart shows the current location of the comet in a smaller, upside-down telescopic field of view.

A printable version of the short-term path of the comet in a field of view that is optimized for (~10x50) binoculars and finderscopes.

Ephemerides:

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2025-08-09 00:00 UT   06 18 23.8   +13 20 32    19.334   18.603   42.8    2.1   261   26.4 
2025-08-09 06:50 UT   06 18 26.3   +13 20 30    19.333   18.605   43.0    2.1   261   26.4 
2025-08-10 00:00 UT   06 18 32.7   +13 20 27    19.328   18.609   43.6    2.2   261   26.4 
2025-08-11 00:00 UT   06 18 41.5   +13 20 21    19.322   18.614   44.5    2.2   262   26.4 
2025-08-12 00:00 UT   06 18 50.1   +13 20 15    19.316   18.619   45.4    2.2   262   26.4 
2025-08-13 00:00 UT   06 18 58.6   +13 20 09    19.309   18.624   46.3    2.3   262   26.4 
2025-08-14 00:00 UT   06 19 07.0   +13 20 02    19.302   18.630   47.2    2.3   263   26.4 
2025-08-15 00:00 UT   06 19 15.2   +13 19 55    19.295   18.635   48.1    2.3   263   26.4 
2025-08-16 00:00 UT   06 19 23.2   +13 19 48    19.288   18.640   49.0    2.4   263   26.4 
2025-08-17 00:00 UT   06 19 31.1   +13 19 40    19.281   18.646   49.9    2.4   263   26.4 
2025-08-18 00:00 UT   06 19 38.9   +13 19 33    19.273   18.651   50.8    2.4   264   26.4 
2025-08-19 00:00 UT   06 19 46.5   +13 19 25    19.265   18.656   51.7    2.4   264   26.4 

    Terminology:
            
    delta:  distance between comet and earth in AU
    radius: distance between comet and sun in AU
    magn:   magnitude (brightness) estimate    
    ra:     right ascension in hours (24h = 360deg)
    dec:    declination in degrees
    elong:  elongation in degrees (angle sun-earth-comet)    
    phase:  phase angle in degrees (angle sun-comet-earth)        
    AU:     Astronomical Unit (mean distance between earth and sun: 149597870.7 km      
    

Orbital elements usually provided by the MPC (Minor Planet Center).
Observations contributed by observers worldwide, via COBS (Comet Observation Database) or the MPC (Minor Planet Center)
Calculations by a modified version of AAPlus, a C# implementation of the AA+ project by PJ Naughter from the algorithms presented in the book "Astronomical Algorithms" by Jean Meeus.
NGC2000 dso catalog and star labels from VizieR as provided by the Strasbourg astronomical Data Center.
Tycho2 catalog from the ESO archive.